The giant sequoia - mixed conifer forest community characterized through pattern analysis as a mosaic of aggregations

• Published in: Forest Ecology and Management (Netherlands) Vol. 3; no. 4
• Main Authors: Bonnicksen, T.M. (Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA). Dept. of Forestry), Stone, E.C
• Format: Publication
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.1981

It is hypothesized that the horizontal structure of the giant sequoia-mixed conifer forest community can be characterized as a mosaic of homogeneous vegetation units referred to as aggregations. This hypothesis was examined using five point pattern analysis techniques. The results showed statistically significant levels of contagion for most of the tree classes analysed, thereby demonstrating the presence of aggregations in the giant sequoia-mixed conifer forest community. Both distance and quadrat methods of analysis also showed that older and larger trees have a tendency to be uniformly dispersed. In addition, aggregations tended to decrease in size as the age of the trees increased. However, giant sequoia was unique in that its aggregations did not tend to decrease in size as the trees grew older. The quadrat methods also showed that most aggregations in the giant sequoia-mixed conifer forest community range in size from 135 to 1600 m('2). These results are compared with the pattern produced by a prescribed burn designed to reduce fuels and restore natural conditions. The prescribed burn reduced the density of trees but it did not significantly alter the pattern of trees in the 41-60 year and older age classes. The management implications of these findings are discussed.